Live Updates: Iran says Strait of Hormuz "completely open" to all ships amid Israel-Lebanon ceasefire

The political wing of Hezbollah condemned Lebanon's government on Friday for agreeing to a ceasefire with Israel, but reaffirmed the Iranian-backed group's "cautious commitment" to the deal.

Hezbollah has long been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and Israel, but it has also functioned as a political party - and a powerful one - in Lebanon for decades. It was Hezbollah militants based in southern Lebanon who were exchanging deadly fire with Israel, not Lebanese state forces, until the 10-day ceasefire came into effect on Thursday evening.

In its statement Friday afternoon, Hezbollah's political wing said the group would adhere to the ceasefire, "provided it is comprehensive across all Lebanese territories, including border areas, and includes a full halt to hostilities and restrictions on the enemy's freedom of movement, serving as a prelude to Israeli withdrawal" from Lebanon.

Israel has said its forces will continue to occupy a section of Lebanon spanning the entire southern border indefinitely.

Hezbollah accused Lebanon's government on Friday of creating "dangerous challenges by adopting a path of concessions and submission to the enemy's will" by agreeing to the truce with Israel on terms that it said "undermine national sovereignty, security, and internal stability, and threaten to strip the country of its natural resources." 

Iran's IRIB state TV network quoted a senior Iranian military official as saying Friday that while commercial ships were now permitted to transit the Strait of Hormuz, "the passage of military vessels through the Strait of Hormuz remains prohibited."

"Only non-military vessels are permitted to transit, and strictly along designated routes with authorization from the IRGC Navy," IRIB quoted the official as saying.

The U.S. military's Central Command said two U.S. Navy destroyers transited the strait last weekend, to begin mine-clearing operations in the vital waterway.

The destroyers crossed through the Strait and operated in the Arabian Gulf, CENTCOM said in a social media post.  

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps released a statement soon after threatening to deal "severely" with any military vessels transiting the strait, according to the French news agency AFP.  

Senior Western leaders are convening in Paris on Friday for talks aimed at safeguarding freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

French President Emmanuel Macron was to host the meeting in person, alongside the U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italy's Giorgia Meloni, underscoring concern among major European powers over the restoration of free movement through the vital shipping lane. 

More than 30 additional representatives from Europe, Asia, and Latin America were expected to join virtually.

According to a French official, the discussions were expected to address a range of potential measures, including coordinated naval escorts for commercial vessels, expanded demining operations, and enhanced intelligence-sharing mechanisms.

The official said organizers remained in continuous contact with both the United States and Iran. Neither the U.S. nor Israel was participating directly in Friday's talks.

President Trump has been disparaging of America's European and NATO allies, repeatedly calling the transatlantic defense alliance a "paper tiger" and bashing its members for declining to join offensive operations against Iran.

In a new post on his Truth Social platform, Mr. Trump said Friday: "Now that the Hormuz Strait situation is over, I received a call from NATO asking if we would need some help. I  TOLD THEM TO STAY AWAY, UNLESS THEY JUST WANT TO LOAD UP THEIR SHIPS WITH OIL. They were useless when needed, a Paper Tiger!"

The Israel Defense Forces said Friday that "defensive guidelines" for all residents, which have limited people's ability to gather in large groups and constrained movements amid the threat of Iranian and Hezbollah attacks, were being lifted.

"In accordance with the guidelines, the entire country will move to full activity levels, with no restrictions" until at least April 23, the IDF said. The only exception was for residents who live close to Israel's northern border with Lebanon, where gatherings of more than 1,000 people will remain banned until Saturday evening.

It was not immediately clear why the change in restrictions was set to end on April 23, but the IDF said it would "conduct ongoing situational assessments" and that any "changes to the civilian defense policies will be communicated to the public accordingly."

President Trump said Friday that Iran had agreed never to block traffic through the Strait of Hormuz again. 

Around 20% of global crude oil supplies typically depart Persian Gulf ports via the shipping lane, but when the U.S. and Israel launched their war with Iran on Feb. 28, Iran quickly retaliated by targeting ships and ports in the region, effectively blocking the waterway.

"Iran has agreed to never close the Strait of Hormuz again. It will no longer be used as a weapon against the World!" Mr. Trump declared in a post on his Truth Social network Friday, nine days into a two-week ceasefire with Iran. 

Iran announced earlier that all commercial vessels would be allowed to safely transit the strait, at least while a new 10-day ceasefire that has halted fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon endures. 

Tehran has not confirmed any commitment not to threaten shipping in the Persian Gulf in the future.

Iran retains thousands of missiles and one-way attack drones, according to a statement by the head of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency.  

Lt. Gen. James Adams submitted the statement to Congress ahead of a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Thursday.

The remaining missiles and drones "can threaten U.S. and partner forces throughout the region, despite degradations to [Iran's] capabilities," Adams wrote. "In addition, Iran poses a persistent threat to freedom of navigation throughout the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman, including retaliatory seizures of commercial ships and the threat of mining the Strait of Hormuz."

Adams also wrote that Iran has signed strategic cooperation agreements with both China and Russia, but so far it has not received full weapons systems from them or from North Korea.

President Trump, continuing to post details of U.S. operations and indirect negotiations with Iran on his Truth Social platform, wrote Friday that "Iran, with the help of the U.S.A., has removed, or is removing, all sea mines!"

The mines, which the U.S. accused Iran of placing in the Strait of Hormuz, are explosive devices set underwater to damage or destroy ships. 

In announcing the reopening of the strait to commercial vessels on Friday, Iran stressed that ships should stick to a designated route through the far north of the narrow shipping lane, which it previously said was necessary to avoid sea mines.

It's not clear how the U.S. will verify that all mines have been removed from the strait, but American Navy warships carried out at least one mine-clearing mission, a week ago, through the strait. 

Last week, the New York Times reported that Iran could not locate all of the mines it had set in the waterway, and could not remove them all, citing U.S. officials. 

In a post on Truth Social, President Trump said the U.S. will get all of  Iran's "nuclear 'dust,'" and for no cost, in what would be a significant step toward an agreement. "Nuclear dust" is a phrase he has used for the enriched uranium remaining after the U.S. and Israel bombed Iranian nuclear sites last June.

"The U.S.A. will get all Nuclear 'Dust,' created by our great B2 Bombers - No money will exchange hands in any way, shape, or form," he wrote. 

The president also said Israel is "PROHIBITED"  from bombing Lebanon, a major point of contention among tensions in the Middle East. 

"This deal is in no way subject to Lebanon, either, but the USA will, separately, work with Lebanon, and deal with the Hezboolah situation in an appropriate manner," the president wrote, misspelling Hezbollah. "Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!! Thank you!"

President Trump said Friday that while the Strait of Hormuz "is completely open and ready for business," following Iran's announcement, the U.S. blockade of Iran's ports, Iranian vessels and any other vessels carrying suspected contraband would remain in place until "OUR TRANSACTION WITH IRAN IS 100% COMPLETE."

Mr. Trump has voiced optimism that, with a ceasefire now in place to halt the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, U.S. and Iranian officials can step up efforts to hammer out a wider peace deal to end the war currently paused under a separate, two-week truce that is set to expire on Tuesday. 

"THE NAVAL BLOCKADE WILL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT AS IT PERTAINS TO IRAN, ONLY, UNTIL SUCH TIME AS OUR TRANSACTION WITH IRAN IS 100% COMPLETE," Mr. Trump said in a Truth Social post. "THIS PROCESS SHOULD GO VERY QUICKLY IN THAT MOST OF THE POINTS ARE ALREADY NEGOTIATED."

The declaration by Iran's foreign minister on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz was "completely open" to all commercial vessels for the duration of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon came with the caveat that ships must use "the coordinated route" previously designated by Iranian authorities.

It appeared to be a reference to maps and guidance issued via Iranian state media on April 8 for vessels - at that point, only ships cleared explicitly through communications with Iranian authorities — to sail via the far north of the narrow strait. 

Iran's state-run Student News Network said in a message shared on social media on April 8 that, due to "the possibility of the presence of various anti-ship mines" in the "main zone of the Strait of Hormuz … all ships intending to transit the Strait of Hormuz are hereby notified that, in order to comply with the principles of maritime safety and to be protected from possible collisions with sea mines, in coordination with the IRGC Navy in the Strait of Hormuz, until further notice, they should proceed with alternative routes for traffic in the Strait of Hormuz as follows and according to the attached map:"

The post included a map showing a path through the strait that skirts the southern Iranian coast, coming very close to its Larak Island, which analysts said previously that the regime appeared to be using as a "toll booth" to collect fees for passage.

The short message posted by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday, declaring the strait open to all ships, did not mention any ongoing requirement for vessels to coordinate passage with Iranian authorities, stipulating only that they use the previously designated route.

President Trump thanked Iran on Friday for its announcement that the Strait of Hormuz was reopened to all shipping traffic amid the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.

"IRAN HAS JUST ANNOUNCED THAT THE STRAIT OF IRAN IS FULLY OPEN AND READY FOR FULL PASSAGE. THANK YOU!," said Mr. Trump in a post on his Truth Social platform.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that his country would allow all ships to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz for the duration of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.

"In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route" announced previously by Iran's port and maritime authorities, Araghchi said in a social media post. 

Iran previously said ships that were granted explicit clearance by Iranian authorities — not linked to the U.S. or Israel — could transit the strait via a route that runs near its Larak Island, to avoid the risk of sea mines in the vital shipping lane.

The Lebanon-Israel ceasefire is to last 10 days, after taking effect at 5 p.m. Eastern on Thursday. The separate two-week ceasefire agreed between the U.S. and Iran is set to expire on Tuesday, but Araghchi appeared to peg the permission for vessels to transit the strait to the halt in fighting between Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah forces in Lebanon. 

World shares were mixed Friday even after Wall Street set another record, as investors watched for signs of more U.S.-Iran talks and an extension of the ceasefire of the Iran war that is expiring next week.

Oil prices fell Friday, while U.S. futures edged up.

President Trump suggested Thursday that he's open to extending the two-week ceasefire in the Iran war, and Iran's U.N. envoy said Tehran remained "cautiously optimistic" over negotiations with the U.S.

As optimism over an extended ceasefire grew, oil prices fell early Friday after climbing a day earlier. Brent crude, the international standard, was 3.2% lower at $96.25 per barrel. It had surged roughly 40% since the beginning of the Iran war in late February. Benchmark U.S. crude was down 3.6% to $87.86 a barrel.

Global energy shocks are growing over impacts of the Iran war, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining largely closed while the U.S. imposed a sea blockade on Iranian ports. The head of the International Energy Agency told The Associated Press on Thursday that Europe has "maybe six weeks or so" of jet fuel supplies remaining and warned of flight cancellations "soon." 

In stocks, U.S. futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.5%, while futures for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both ticked up 0.3% Friday.

Early European trading saw Britain's FTSE 100 index down 0.2% to 10,567.17. France's CAC 40 was 0.4% higher at 8,293.21, while Germany's DAX gained 0.6% to 24,308.82.

Asian stocks were mostly lower. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 fell 1.8% to 58,475.90 after reaching an all-time high on Thursday. South Korea's Kospi was 0.6% lower at 6,191.92. Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped 0.9% to 26,160.33. The Shanghai Composite index edged down 0.1% to 4,051.43.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.1%. Taiwan's Taiex traded 0.9% lower, while India's Sensex gained 0.7%.

The speaker of Iran's parliament, Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, welcomed the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon on Friday, calling it a victory for Iran's powerful proxy force Hezbollah.

"The ceasefire was nothing but a result of Hezbollah's steadfastness and the unity of the Axis of Resistance; and we will deal with this ceasefire with caution, and we will remain together until the full realization of victory," Ghalibaf said in a post on social media. "I thank the mediating efforts of the State of Pakistan and General Asim Munir for endorsing this ceasefire. We are true to our pledge."

Iranian state media echoed the message, portraying the ceasefire as the result of the resistance mounted by Hezbollah to Israel's attacks and invasion of southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah is among the most powerful militias in the Middle East supported by Iran. It has long been designated as a terrorist organization by Israel and the U.S., and its military wing is also labeled a terror group by the European Union.

Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun told a group of Lebanese lawmakers Friday, hours into his country's ceasefire agreement with Israel, that his goal "is to consolidate the ceasefire, ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied southern territories, secure the release of prisoners, and address outstanding border disputes," according to a statement released by his office.

"The ceasefire is the gateway to moving forward with negotiations and is a path supported domestically and internationally," Aoun said. "Among its most notable signs is what U.S. President Donald Trump announced during yesterday's phone call, expressing support for Lebanon, its sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, as well as the United States standing with the Lebanese people to end their suffering, restore recovery, and reactivate the economy, which has been negatively affected by the recent war."

Aoun told lawmakers Lebanon's army would "play a fundamental role after the withdrawal of Israeli forces by deploying up to the southern international border [with Israel], ending armed manifestations, and reassuring southerners returning to their villages and towns that no armed forces will be present except the army and legitimate security forces."

Aoun did not mention Hezbollah by name. Southern Lebanon was long a stronghold for the Iran-backed group, which had exchanged intense fire with Israel during the Iran war until the current 10-day ceasefire took effect at midnight local time, which was 5 p.m. Eastern on Thursday.

"The Lebanese people, who have endured much in recent years, now face a new reality supported by Arab and international backing. This opportunity must not be wasted, as it may not be repeated," Aoun said.

Iranian Army commander Major General Amir Hatami said Friday, nine days into his country's two-week ceasefire agreement with the U.S., that his forces remained "ready to confront any threat or aggression by enemies," but he indicated no new attacks by either side.

Hatami issued his statement, marking Army Day in Iran, hours after a parallel ceasefire took effect between Israel and Lebanon, which has halted fighting between Israeli forces and the Iranian backed group Hezbollah.

That separate battle had remained a potential disruptor to the U.S.-Iran truce, and President Trump pushed hard to get the Lebanon ceasefire nailed down to avoid a new flare up in the Iran war.

While the two-week ceasefire has halted U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and Iran's missile and drone fire at Israel and America's Persian Gulf allies, Tehran and Washington remain locked in a dispute over the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. has blockaded Iranian ports, and Iran's looming threat to vessels not explicitly authorized by its authorities has kept traffic gridlocked in the vital shipping lane.

President Trump has demanded repeatedly that Iran drop its threat over the Strait, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth warned Iranian commanders Thursday to "choose wisely" and make a deal to end the war and reopen the waterway, saying, "in the meantime, the War Department is locked and loaded." 

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine also stressed the U.S. military's readiness to return to combat operations if diplomacy does not progress, saying Thursday that American forces remain "postured and ready to resume major combat operations at literally a moment's notice." 

Residents of southern Lebanon forced to flee their towns and villages due to Israel's military operations told CBS News partner network BBC News on Friday they were hopeful that they might soon be able to return to their homes now that a ceasefire has come into effect.

But Israel's military told them explicitly not to, and Lebanese army vehicles were still blocking the path to some southern areas on Friday, the BBC reported, including the entrance to Khiam, which is still occupied by Israeli soldiers.

One man in his 70s told the BBC he was looking to return to his home, "hopefully soon."

A woman said she knew her house had been destroyed, but "it doesn't matter."

"Houses can be rebuilt, and all is worthless compared to a drop of blood of a martyr," she said, referring to Hezbollah fighters who have fought against Israel's invading forces.

The BBC reported that residents of some southern areas of Lebanon were returning to their towns.

"We left [the town of Nabitiyeh] 25 days ago, and we are grateful for all those who helped with ending the war," one resident told the British network.

Asked if he thought the ceasefire would last, he told the BBC: "It will — thanks to those who imposed this one."

Israel Defense Forces spokesman Avichay Adraee warned the displaced residents of towns and villages from a large region of southern Lebanon on Friday that IDF troops were not pulling out of the country amid the new ceasefire, and they should not attempt to return to their homes.

"With the entry of the ceasefire agreement into the implementation phase, the Israel Defense Forces continue to maintain their positions in southern Lebanon in the face of the ongoing terrorist activities of Hezbollah," Adraee said in his social media post.

"Out of concern for your safety and the safety of your families' members — until further notice — you are requested not to move south of the Litani River," he said, referring to a river that forms a de facto demarcation line across southern Lebanon.

Lebanese authorities say more than 1 million people — roughly a fifth of the country's entire population —  have been displaced by the Israel operations.

Hezbollah, the U.S.-designated terrorist group and close Iranian ally in Lebanon that's been at war with Israel on and off for years, indicated tacitly on Friday that it would respect the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon announced by President Trump the previous day.

Hezbollah was not a formal party to the ceasefire, which took effect at 5 p.m. Eastern, agreed between the leaders of Israel and Lebanon. But it is Hezbollah — not Lebanese forces — that fired rockets at Israeli towns and cities during the war sparked by the joint U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran on Feb. 28.

Israel ramped up its assault in Lebanon against Hezbollah targets in tandem with its joint strikes with the U.S. in Iran, also launching an extensive ground invasion which has seen Israeli forces occupy a significant portion of southern Lebanon. Lebanese officials say the Israeli operations have killed more than 2,000 people, including many women and children, and driven more than 1 million people from their homes.

Hezbollah issued a statement Friday lauding its attacks on Israel during the war, claiming thousands of strikes on Israeli positions and settlements in retaliation for Israel's attacks on Lebanese territory. The statement stressed that Hezbollah fighters would remain prepared for any new escalation.

"The hands of these fighters will remain on the trigger, anticipating the enemy's treachery and violation of promises," the group warned.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has been a key intermediary helping to broker U.S.-Iran dialogue, including the ongoing two-week ceasefire, welcomed on Friday the tandem ceasefire agreed to the previous day by the Israeli and Lebanese leaders, which was announced by President Trump.

"I welcome the announcement of a ceasefire in Lebanon, facilitated through bold and sagacious diplomatic efforts led by President Donald Trump, and express the hope that it will pave the way for sustainable peace," Sharif said in a social media post.

"Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon, and will continue to support all efforts aimed at lasting peace in the region," he said.

Sharif and Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, have worked feverishly this week, visiting Persian Gulf capitals and holding phone calls with U.S. and Iranian officials, to broker a new round of direct talks between Iran and the U.S.

No date has been set for that second round of talks yet, but the agreement to stop the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah could help smooth the path for such direct negotiations, as Israel's attacks in Lebanon remained a major sticking point after the previous round.

A 10-day truce appeared to be mostly intact in Lebanon early Friday, promising a pause in fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group and possibly clearing one major obstacle to a deal between Iran and the United States and Israel to end weeks of devastating war. The ceasefire began at 5 p.m. EDT.  

But it remained unclear whether Israel and Hezbollah would completely stop strikes on one another and whether the militant group would recognize a deal it did not play a role in negotiating and that will leave Israeli troops occupying a stretch of southern Lebanon.

The Lebanese army posted on social media that there had been "a number of violations of the agreement, with several Israeli attacks recorded, in addition to intermittent shelling targeting a number of villages." And French President President Emmanuel Macron said Friday he was concerned that the ceasefire "may already be undermined by ongoing military operations," French news agency AFP reported.

Still, barrages of gunshots rang out across Beirut as residents fired into the air just after midnight to celebrate the beginning of the truce, and displaced families began moving toward southern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs despite warnings by officials not to attempt to return to their homes until it became clear whether the ceasefire would hold.

CBS/AP

President Trump said on his Truth Social platform late Thursday night, after the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire came into effect, that it "May have been a historic day for Lebanon. Good things are happening!!!"

Mr. Trump announced earlier that Lebanon and Israel had agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, which took effect at 5 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, or midnight local time in the Mideast.

Earlier Thursday, Mr. Trump said on Truth Social that he hopes Hezbollah "acts nicely and well during this important period in time. It will be an GREAT moment for them if they do. No more killing. Must finally have PEACE!"

President Trump said Thursday night that "the war in Iran is going along swimmingly."

"We had to do a little journey down to Iran, and I didn't want to do that, but we had to because we can't let them have a nuclear weapon," the president said during an event in Las Vegas.

The president predicted that the war "should be ending pretty soon," a prediction he has made in the past. The U.S. and Iran are currently nine days into a two-week ceasefire, buying the two sides time to negotiate, and Mr. Trump told reporters earlier Thursday that "if there's no deal, fighting resumes."

But he was optimistic about ongoing indirect negotiations with Tehran, as Pakistani mediators work to organize a new round of direct talks between U.S. and Iranian officials that Mr. Trump has said come as soon as this weekend — and yield "amazing" results. 

We're "going to have victory very shortly," Mr. Trump said in Las Vegas, adding: "Let's see what happens over the next week or so."

U.S. Central Command said Thursday that it is using more than 10,000 U.S. service members — along with at least 12 ships and 100 aircraft — to enforce its ongoing blockade of Iranian ports.

CENTCOM, which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East, reiterated in a social media post that U.S. forces are not blockading the Strait of Hormuz itself, but instead "Iran's ports and coastline." 

The U.S. began its blockade on Monday. CENTCOM said earlier Thursday that 14 vessels have so far "turned around to comply with the blockade" since it took effect. 

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a news conference earlier in the day that the U.S. would "use force" on any ships that do not comply.